Sunday, October 21, 2012

Three In A Row

Although Sunday morning saw my third ringing session in three days out on Rawcliffe Moss, the morning was somewhat spoiled by an early and stubborn mist. The figure three entered the equation again when I caught the third “control” in three days, this time a Chaffinch ringed elsewhere - ring number Y867191. 

I set off from home to starry skies through Hambleton village and then alongside the River Wyre with just a hint of mist, but once out on the moss the dank air made for a more fog like substance, a scenario which limited any early bird arrivals. The at-dawn catch involved one Blackbird only, the few other thrushes in the vicinity of the nets a single Fieldfare, 2 Redwing and a couple more Blackbirds, all of which escaped captivity.

Catching didn’t start really until after 0830 when the mist finally cleared to reveal a bright blue sky as from the north and west finches began to appear and call from high overhead, some of them lingering briefly in the plantation. 22 birds of 7 species caught today: 10 Chaffinch, 6 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Goldcrest, 1 Blackbird, 1 Reed Bunting, 1 Coal Tit, 1 Robin. 

Reed Bunting- juvenile female

Goldcrest - juvenile male

Lesser Redpoll -juvenile female

Lesser Redpolls were much in evidence again today, with a minimum of 40 birds moving through the site in small groups between 0815 and 1045 when I left. Other high-flyers heading south: 4+ Siskin, 50+ Chaffinch, 10+ Meadow Pipit, 2 Pied Wagtail. 

Following a blog comment on Saturday it seems that Lesser Redpoll Y310191 caught here on Friday morning had been ringed in a Worcestershire garden in March this year by “Napper”, Another Bird Blog’s latest follower. In contrast, it could be some weeks for me to hear about yesterday’s Belgian ringed bird or today’s Chaffinch, and while it’s good to see how efficient the Internet is in this instance it isn’t a means of by-passing the proper method. This works by ringers regularly sending their data files into the BTO, who process information about the millions of birds handled through the UK and other ringing schemes in order to match the records of original ringing details to those of recovered and recaptured birds. 

Below is today’s recaptured female Chaffinch Y867191, not a ring used here or on other local sites, so a bird marked elsewhere in the UK. The rounded, broad tail and strongly demarcated tertial feathers show the bird to be an adult, i.e. born before this calendar year. 

 Chaffinch- adult female
Chaffinch - adult female

Other birds today: Barn Owl hunting at dawn, 3 Tawny Owls, 4 Snipe, 2 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 2 Jay.

This week Another Bird Blog is linking with Stewart's Photo Gallery and Anni who’d rather be birding anytime. If you would sooner be birding most of the time, log in here for the latest news and views.

13 comments:

eileeninmd said...

Sounds like a great day to me, I would love to see a barn owl hunting. And I love the Redpoll and the Goldcrest. Beautiful birds and photos. Happy Birding, Phil!

HansHB said...

Great bird post!

grammie g said...

Hey Phil...I see you are linking up with a couple of others..does that mean our friendship is over??? LOL!!
I don't blame you I have been doing a miserable job keeping up with my commenting!! Such is the life of a single women, you are not only chief cook and bottle washer, your chief wood chopper and stacker ; }!!
Hey your doing one heck of a job over there with those birds,Great that your getting some ringed birds and already have feedback,but you got to stop grumbling about the weather, maybe you got that attitude from me : }
Bud's?
Grace

Russell Jenkins said...

Some great little birds Phil and you get a nice count of raptors as usual too. I'd always prefer to be birding of course, but it's great to have a read about it when indoors.

DeniseinVA said...

Wonderful photos Phil, what a great way to spend a day.

Mary Howell Cromer said...

You have some lovely birds there Phil and oh to see an Owl again, and on the hunt. Your morning sounds like it turned out nicely for you. Hmm, must be out and about by now in your part of the world. Hope it goes very well~

TexWisGirl said...

the chaffinch are such beautiful birds!

EG CameraGirl said...

Wish I knew as much about birds as you do! Your photos are great too.

Karen said...

Cute birds and terrific photos.

mick said...

Your close-up of the birds are always beautiful but the photo of the juvenile male Goldcrest is especially nice.

Adam Jones said...

Nice to see the Goldcrest in hand. Such a tiny bird.

Hootin Anni said...

Beautiful images...I never get tired of visiting and viewing all you're doing with the birds...you're a marvel. As are your photos.


Hootin' Anni @ Hootin' Anni's - Egret taking to flight
and
I'd Rather B Birdin - Cooper's Hawk

Stewart M said...

Nice post - controls are always fun.

cheers and thanks for linking to WBW

Stewart M - Australia

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